Yates wins 5th stage with solo, Kwiatkowski moves into lead

Britain's Adam Yates celebrates as he crosses the finish line to win the 5th stage of the Tirreno-Adriatico cycling race, from Castelraimondo to Filottrano, Italy, Sunday, March 11, 2018. (Dario Belingheri/ANSA via AP)

Britain's Adam Yates celebrates on the podium after winning the 5th stage of the Tirreno-Adriatico cycling race, from Castelraimondo to Filottrano, Italy, Sunday, March 11, 2018. (Dario Belingheri/ANSA via AP)

Poland's Michal Kwiatkowski celebrates on the podium the blue jersey of overall leader after the 5th stage of the Tirreno-Adriatico cycling race, from Castelraimondo to Filottrano, Italy, Sunday, March 11, 2018. (Dario Belingheri/ANSA via AP)

Britain's Adam Yates celebrates as he crosses the finish line to win the 5th stage of the Tirreno-Adriatico cycling race, from Castelraimondo to Filottrano, Italy, Sunday, March 11, 2018. (Dario Belingheri/ANSA via AP)

FILOTTRANO, Italy — Adam Yates soloed to victory in the fifth stage of the Tirreno-Adriatico race on Sunday, while Michal Kwiatkowski finished third to take the overall lead with just two stages remaining.

Yates attacked with about four kilometers remaining of the hilly 178-kilometer (110-mile) route from Castelraimondo to Michele Scarponi's hometown of Filottrano — and no one could catch him.

The British rider crossed the line seven seconds ahead of Peter Sagan and Kwiatkowski.

"In climbs like this, you just go hard and give as much as you can," Yates said. "I tried to attack after my teammates positioned me well at the bottom of the hill. All I could do was to attack. It fell into place. I don't have a sprint to beat Sagan, I had to go away."

The stage finish was a tribute to Scarponi, who died after a collision with a van while training, shortly before the Giro d'Italia last year.

"I didn't know Michele Scarponi personally. I never spoke to him. But it was an emotional day for many guys in the peloton," Yates said. "It's just a shame he's not here anymore. Every day you go out training and you don't know if you'll come back."